Quality and Shelf Life of Mango (Mangifera Indica L. cv. `Tainong') Coated by Using Chitosan and Polyphenols

Abstract

Chitosan-based coatings were used to delay ripening and prolong shelf-life of mango fruit stored at 15±1°C and 85—90% RH for 35 days. Mango fruits were treated with 2% chitosan solution or with 2% chitosan containing 1% tea polyphenols (TP—chitosan). Samples were taken at regular intervals for analysis. Results indicated that chitosan coating alone could decrease the decay incidence and weight loss, and delay the change in colour, pH and titratable acidity of mango fruit during storage. While coating the fruit with TP—chitosan was more effective at keeping quality of the fruit during storage. Firmness of the control fruit declined rapidly to 18.6 N after 5 days of storage at 15°C, which was 22.8% or 71.5% lower than that of the fruit treated with chitosan or TP—chitosan, respectively. Sensory quality of mango was enhanced significantly by the TP—chitosan coating compared with chitosan coating alone. These results suggested that treatment with chitosan containing TP exhibited high potential for shelf-life extension of mango fruit.